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Divergent

Directed by: Neil Burger
Screenplay by: Evan Daugherty, Vanessa Taylor
Based on: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Produced By: Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Pouya Shahbazian
Starring:
Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Tony Goldwyn, Maggie Q, Kate Winslet
Music by: Junkie XL
Production Company: Red Wagon Entertainment, Summit Entertainment
Release dates: March 18, 2014 (Los Angeles Premiere), March 21, 2014 (United States)

Plot: In a future dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions:


Abnegation
(the selfless)

Amity
(the peaceful)

Candor
(the honest)

Dauntless
(the brave)

Erudite
(the intellectual)


The remaining population, the Factionless, have no status or privilege. Upon turning 16, children undergo a serum-induced psychological aptitude test which indicates their best-suited faction, but can choose any faction as their permanent group at the subsequent Choosing Ceremony.

Beatrice Prior was born into Abnegation, which runs the government. Her father Andrew serves on the ruling council along with Abnegation's leader Marcus Eaton. After her test results show equal attributes of multiple factions (Abnegation, Erudite, and Dauntless), marking her as Divergent, her proctor Tori Wu, a Dauntless woman, records her results as Abnegation, warns her to conceal her true results, and says that because Divergents can think independently and sense any serums injected into them, the government feels they threaten the existing social order.

Review: The story develops and takes on an urgency as secrets are revealed. A political machination is at work slowly removing people who are declared to be Divergents. As these individuals do not fit easily into any single faction. They are able to blend into multiple factions with a level of ease that makes political leaders uneasy. Especially as government is not able to control them. Beatrice Prior learns of this plot and has to work quickly to save herself and other Dviergents.

This story does resemble many other movies. I'm sure you'll be able to think of the similarities to other movies. For a formula movie this one is easy to watch and has a good storyline.

M J Flack